Bury saw out the final match of the season proper with a goalless stalemate away at Ramsbottom United confirming a third place finish in the league table and a spot in the playoffs.

The Shakers had beaten the Rams only ten days earlier in the reverse league match at Gigg Lane but defeat against Padiham between the two fixtures meant Bury entered the final weekend a point behind the top two sides Wythenshawe FC and Wythenshawe Town needing both promotion rivals to fail to win to have any hope of ending the day as champions. Bury also had to win their match and manager Dave McNabb named an aggressive starting lineup with Comber, Pinnington, Cherera and Harrop all handed starts, with Andy Briggs as the lone frontman.

In the early running it seemed to work with the Shakers in ascendancy. Tanaka Cherera was the early threat forcing home keeper Chris Thompson into a good early save before later seeing a goalwards shot cleared over the bar by Theo Butterworth with Thompson beaten. A Max Harrop free kick caused havoc in the Rams box as did a series of corners the visitors had, one of which was deflected onto the bar by Thompson.

The home side did have their chances the best falling to Luke Sephton played in one on one with Harry Wright. The Shakers keeper pulled off a tremendous save to deflect the goalbound shot away. At the other end Cherera ever the danger man forced another good save from Thompson as did Comber while Cherera fed the ball through to Harrop who lofted a shot that beat Thompson but fell safely into the packed stand behind the goal.

While Bury had been in control of the match the failure to score was a worry. More so with every passing minute energy sapped from the hard running Bury attack. The Shakers were moving further away from the promotion hopes not closer and with news filtering through that both Wythenshawe sides were winning the prospect of the playoffs became more likely.

The Shakers came out into the second half sluggish and lacked a cutting edge as the Rams were able to maintain a strong defensive line. More goals elsewhere confirmed the result of the match would be irrelevant in the context of the promotion race. The best chance of the second half had been a Dylan McMahon shot well saved by Wright before a late surge to claim a final three point of the league campaign pushed Bury on.

Substitute Miles Storey fired a shot that hit the bottom of Thompson’s goalpost while a deflected Andy Scarisbrick effort tipped the crossbar. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Jacob Holland-Wilkinson who turned quickly, struck sweetly but his volley also rattled the woodwork. In the end nothing could separate the sides Bury seeing out their first goalless draw of the season.

Ramsbottom still have a final away match to play while Bury will have to wait to discover their playoff opponent and the date they will play again as the Shakers have to pick themselves up for a final challenge to a long season.